CENTRAL NSW JOINT ORGANISATION ESTABLISHED TO BENEFIT REGIONAL COMMUNITIES

​​Tuesday, 15 May 2018​

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke today welcomed the establishment of the Central NSW Joint Organisation which will strengthen collaboration between local councils and the NSW Government on regional initiatives.

Ms Cooke joined with Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW Rick Colless, Member for Bathurst Paul Toole and Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries, whose electorates form part of the initiative, to make the announcement.

Ms Cooke, Mr Toole and Mr Humphries said the Central NSW Joint Organisation has been formally proclaimed with 10 member councils – Cowra, Weddin, Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Forbes, Lachlan, Oberon, Orange and Parkes.

The NSW Government has also provided $300,000 in seed funding to help establish the new regional body in Central NSW. 

“The NSW Government introduced an Australian first for regional communities when Parliament passed legislation late last year to establish a network of Joint Organisations across regional NSW,” Ms Cooke said.

“I commend our local councils for recognising the many benefits the new regional body will offer our local communities and deciding to join the Central NSW Joint Organisation.

“By coming together and joining forces, these local councils put themselves in a stronger position to deliver bigger picture projects,” Ms Cooke added. 

Ms Cooke said the new regional body will look at the issues that matter most to our local communities such as building strong economies, creating jobs, and improving regional infrastructure, services and facilities.

“Central NSW Joint Organisation will now undertake a number of tasks to prepare to become operational by July 1 including electing a chairperson, employing an executive officer, adopting a code of conduct, and developing a charter,” Ms Cooke said. 

The Central NSW Joint Organisation is one of 11 Joint Organisations comprising more than 70 councils in regional NSW.